Figure 1.--.

It was necessary to design a way of attaching the suspended strap garters to the under waist and waist union suits. This was not necessary for suspender waists because the gaters were sewn on. They were also used on waist union suits. Several methods were invented for attaching on the garters: 1) pin tubes, 2) eyelets, 3) and tape loops. We we are speaking here of various styles of garter tabs, i.e., ways of attaching the supporter to an underwaist or waist union suit. These might be seen as different types of garters, but there were other features of the garters besides the ways they were attached to the waist. One of the most important attachment methods was the pin tunbes. We note they were also called "metal garter tabs". Various methods of attaching suspended strao hose supporters to waists and waist union suits were prevalent in the early decades of the 20th century. The earliest method (before safety pins were common on hose supporters) was simply to button the supporter strap to the waist in the same way that trousers were buttoned on. After hose supporters began to be manufactured with safety pins for attachment, tape loops or tabs with eyelets were commonly used. Sometimes mothers pinned their children's garters directly onto the fabric of the waist, but this was unsatisfactory because it tended to tear the fabric or weaken it by repeated puncturing with pin holes.

Buttons

Various methods of attaching the suspended strap hose supporters to waists and waist union suits were prevalent in the early decades of the 20th century. The earliest method (before safety pins were common on hose supporters) was simply to button the supporter strap to the waist in the same way that trousers were buttoned on. We believe that this was the principal practice at the end of the 19th century and maybe very early in the 20th. But when buttons were used they seem to come on waists to which supporters were already commerically attached. We see no advertisements for hose supporters sold individually as separate items with button holes at the top for fasteneing onto waist buttons. But we do see garter waists (with garters already attached) on which the garters seem to be held in place by buttons rather than by eyelets, loops, or pin tubes. The Double-V waist (1886) has buttons to which the supporters are attached. And early in the history of waists, we see refererences to "garter buttons" (which means buttons on the waist to which supporters are attached). Notice the McKay Waist with hose supporters attached (1904): This waist shows the supporters apparently attached by buttons, but the supporters come with the waist and wouldn't be purchased separately--i.e., they are made to go with this specific garment. Warner's Perfection Waists also seem to have button attachment of the supporters rather than the safety pin, although here the attachment method is a little more dubious. But the Ferris waist for boys (1907) has safety pin attachments, which means that the detachable hose supporters worn for this waist would be the common ones with safety pins at the top. Wards advertised a garter waist in 1936 that has the supporters attached by a button on each side. The text refers to garter buttons--"bone buttons that are strongly attached to stand the strain of garter pull". On the Wards garter waist (1926) the supporters come with garment but are buttoned onto waist tab. The Wards selections of garter waist (1933) showed one supporter that buttoned onto waist tabs.

Safety Pins

Walter Hunt invented all kinds of decices. He thought up a machine to spin flax. a fire engine gong, a forest saw, a and stove that could use hard coal. He sat down one day in 1849 and began playing with piece of brass wire about eight inches long. He coiled at the center and shielded it at anither end. It became the first safety pin. It proved to be one of the most utilitarian devices available to mothers in America and Europe. Ans unlike many other 19th century devices is still widely used in modern homes. American mothers found endless uses for thus simple, inexpensive items. One of these uses was holding up long stockings which began to become increasingly popular at mid-century. Mothers began pinning their children's garters directly onto the fabric of the waist, but this was unsatisfactory because it tended to tear the fabric or weaken it by repeated puncturing with pin holes.

Safety Pin Attachment Devices

After suspended strap elasric garters began to be manufactured with safety pins for attachment, several devices were developed for attaching the saftey pins on to the dufferent support garments. These provided for the easy and secure attachment. The attachment devices commonly included attaching metal tubes, eyelets, and tape loops. They were incorporated on both underwaists/waist suits and waist union suits. Garter waists came with the elastic garters already attached.

Created: 3:44 AM 1/18/2010
Last updated: 3:45 AM 1/18/2010